National Republican., 1887-11-26
The star-Eyed Goddess Sick,

Before the. first session of the fiftieth
Congress shall have closed the canvass for
President to be inaugurated In March,
1889, will be far under way. BY usage the
party in power is expected to make the en-
suing session useful for the exposition of
It's principles and Its policies. The party
in power is the boasted and boastful De-
mocracy. By usage the President of the
dominant party is expected to lead of by
presenting in his annual message the line
Of conduct for his party. The President is
a thoroughbred representative Of De-
mocrscy. There is wide curiosity to know
whether this President Of this Democracy
VIII boldly de1ne the issues upon watch
continued lease Of power.
The task before Mr. Cleveland is Sc
rious one. He is anxious for reelection.
lie is committed in writing to revenue
tariff policy, meaning free trade, and in this
majority Of his party is with him. He is
committed in writing to civil service reform,
hut in this an overwhelming majority OF his
party is against his theory while applaud,ng
his practice. How to coax the two dis.
how to make free trade palatahle with
seasoning Of incidental protection; how to
reconcile the promises OF letters to Mug.
wumps and letters to very offensive parti-
sans inclosing valuable considerations of
pernicious activity; how to keep up the
assumption OF reform for the entertainment
of so,calied independents, while practicing
tn tlau on
in line-these are some OF the problems
over which q more sensitive man than Mr..
Cleveland might persplre, but which, 1t is
said, he can solve as easily as he can veto
Widows pension.
Previous to the late elections 1t seemed
an easy task to foretel the Democratic
programme for the coming campaign touch
ing the revenue. 1t would have been a
clamor for free trade almost without quail
fication. But all the elections dealt severe
blows to the Br tish policy, with the excep-
ton Of that In New York, which turned
upon free whisky and spoIls. True, sew
elal free trade organs, even since then,
urged free trade platform as the true
Democratic policy. But the most emphatic
expressions have been the other way.
Senator Mcpherson says that New Jersey
is for protection, and the Democrats have
no hope there upon "tarif for revenue
only" policy. The New York Herald,
foremost heretofore in its yearning for
'revenue REFORM" calls halt upon that
line now, as dangerous to Democratic
success. Many lesser lights of Dsmlc-
racy, not heretofore identified with the
"Randall wing are ready to compromise
their free trade views. Is the President
also prepared to abandoned the "star.eyed
goddess Of reform" to an ignoble fate, or
viii he maintain his well-known belief in
approximate free trade? Probably upon
thissubl lect the President will teeblY lead and
the Democracy obediently follow In a tune.
ful no.tunG sort Of policy, as has been the
practice Of Democracy since 1t was organ.
i2cd for pluuder on code Of false pre-.
lenses.
Next, what of civil service rcformY This,
the NIugwumps have said, is the Presidents
own peculiar field. lie wakes eloquent AT
the bare mention of the subject. His smtIs
is wider and his speech is heartler when he
Contemplates the practical results OF his
conscientious work for purity in the public
service and the enforcement OF official life
from politics. WIN he, In spite OF his party
speak out on this subject? WIN he iud 1t
safe to preach a Graham diet while distrlbu,
ting the pork literally to his heelersH OF
course. He may talk In glitterlng general
titles. He need not be specific. He nee /
not recite to the eastern Mugwumps the
character Of his Indiana appolntees. lie
need not rehearse, for the delecta-
tion of Massachusetts, the deeds
Of offensive partisanshlp on the
part of the federal officials In Maryland and
New York. lie need not mention the con
tIibutIons extorted from the poor clerks,
nor the big checks forwarded by high OIL